AWARD OP THE FISHERY COMMISSION. . 2553 



Q. Where were they from? A. They were caught around in the 

 vicinity of Gloucester and Boston. 



Q. Off the coast of Massachusetts ? A. Yes, off the coast of Massa- 

 chusetts. 



Q. Seven or eight barks you say. How many barrels to a bark? 

 A. I don't know what they took. I saw the vessels there. I can't say 

 precisely the number. I should think they might probably have taken 

 5,000 barrels apiece. 



Q. They went to Sweden ? A. Gottenburg, I believe. 



Q. Have your vessels ever fished for herring in British waters or 

 have you yourself? A. 1 have been to the Magdalen Islands for her- 

 ring. I have never fished there. I have been there for herring. 



Q. How did you get them ? A. I bought them. 



Q. From whom ? A. Provincial people. 



Q. What did you do with the herring f A. I carried them to Boston 

 and used them for smoking purposes, as well as shipped them to the 

 West Indies. 



Q. Did you carry them fresh and frozen ? A. No ; salted. 



Q. Are they smoked after being salted ? A. Yes. 



Q. When did you have anything to do with that Magdalen Island 

 herring business ? A. (Referring to memorandum.) I was there in 18GO, 

 1861, and 1862, 1 think. Those are the only years. 



Q. What season? A. During the month of May. 



Q. Now, have you been to Newfoundland ? A. I have been there 

 seven winters to buy herring. 



Q. Beginning when ? A. I was there in 1857 the first year. 



Q. Were you connected with Andrew Lay ton ? A. I was in company 

 with him. We were the first ones to go there from our place for herring. 



Q. Did you ever fish for any herring there? A. I never did. 



Q. How did you pay for them ? A. Partly with supplies, provisions, 

 and the most in specie. 



Q. Did you go prepared to fish for herring ? A. Never. 



Q. Did you ever know a United States vessel that did ? A. I never 

 heard of them. 



Q. Now, do you know of any catching of herring prosecuted by 

 United States vessels in any British waters anywhere? A. I never 

 knew of any. I have known them to go to Labrador in the summer for 

 herring some vessels. 



Q. What is the price of herring ? Give me some idea. A. The price 

 of herring varies very much. Magdalen herring are a very cheap fish, 

 usually selling from the vessel at about $1.50 for 228 pounds, the way 

 we sell them. 



Q. At Gloucester ? A. Yes. Our shore herring is selling from the 

 boats now, including the barrel, at about $3.00. 



Q. What is the barrel worth? A. Well, we consider it worth about 

 a dollar usually. 



Q. What would be the effect of a duty of a dollar a barrel on pickled 

 herring, or five cents a box on smoked herring, upon the importation 

 of herring from foreign countries from the Dominion into the United 

 States ? A. It would be prohibitory on the barreled herring, which is 

 a cheap herring. I can't speak of the box herring, for I have no knowl- 

 edge of it. 



Q. Your business relations have brought you into contact with a good 

 many of the business men and fishermen of the provinces, I suppose? 

 A. Very much. I have traded to all parts of the provinces. 



Q. If you have the means of telling either from personal observation 



